The Legend of Luke (Redwall, Book 12)
by Brian Jacques
List Price:
Our Price: $1.71
You Save: $6.28 (79%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Brian JacquesEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-02-01
ISBN: 0441007732
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Ace
Book Reviews of The Legend of Luke (Redwall, Book 12)
Book Review: A Legend for the Years
Summary: 5 Stars
The Legend of Luke is defiantly one of those one time favorites. You never ever want to read it again, but you absolutely enjoyed the legend of Redwall's famous Martin the Warrior's dad, Luke. In previous Redwall adventures there wasn't much information given on Luke, except that he was the long lost father of Martin. In this tale Martin decides to leave Redwall, accompanied by Trimp the Hedgehog, Dinny Foremole, and his best friend Gonff (who might I add considers himself the Prince of Mousethieves) on an expedition to uncover the mystery of what happened to his legendary father. As he listens to his father's saga, told by his father's very old mate Beau, he hears the tragic but heroic story that lives in his blood.
Brian Jacques is one of my all time favorite fantasy authors. The Redwall series has so far been a pleasure to read, and The Legend of Luke is defiantly of the twelve I have read been the best. The main reason is how compelling the story. You know it's going to be a wild tale from the moment you know that Martin is going to go search for the mystery that is his father. Especially if you have read the previous Redwall tales containing Martin, you are dieing to know what his father was like. The moment Beau begins to recall the legend of Luke, you are wisped away into a world of cruelty and brutality, keeping you on the tip of you tail all the time. With each twist and plot, from the two hilled island where Luke is almost killed, to his final moments of crashing the Gorleech into the two giant rocks near what used to be his tribe's happy home, you are amazed at the quick thinking and courage it took to do the actions that Luke did.
One thing that is so loveable about this book is that all the characters are creatures of variety. Usually with characters of people, looks come into matter, and you become the character, if not want to possibly be the character. In The Legend of Luke you stay separate, because you know you are not a mouse, stoat, hedgehog, or whatever other creatures you might come across. Your mind can focus on the brilliancy of the story, not the things that connect it to your life. The book stays the book, and you stay you. It's either simple psychology, or me just being weird, but the fact that the characters are animals helps me focus on the personality and the actions, instead of how I compare to them.
The last thing I liked about this book was the end to Luke's legend. In the end he was captured and put into slavery by his mortal enemy Vilu Daskar, which is the one he has sworn to kill so he could avenge his slain wife, Sonia. He tricks Vilu into thinking he has treasure buried near his old home. Vilu then takes the ship back to Luke's former cave. When they get there, not even bothering to get off the ship, Luke sees that the rest of his tribe is gone, including his son, Martin. Knowing there is nothing left for him to even escape alive for, he creates the perfect plan to end Daskar and his band of vermin. He leads them to believe that there is treasure in the two tall rocks off the shore. The area around these pillars is dangerous, filled with sharks and other rocks that could rip the ship apart. Once Daskar realizes what Luke was doing, it was too late. Even after begging, the Gorleech is driven into the rocks, where it split in half, taking everyone, even Martin, down to the cold water of the North seas, never to be seen or heard from again. The only survivors were Beau, Luke's best friend Vurg, and Denno, who have stayed with the ship, living out the last of their days.
If this review hasn't gotten you to want to read this novel, then I don't know what will. This story is a masterpiece only to be read once, for knowing the plot spoils it. Personally if I had the choice (and this I wish I could do with some other books...i.e. The Nanny) I would have the memory erased, so I could feel the suspense and horrific but sometimes splendid action that happens through four and eight ninths of ever five pages of this novel. This truly is the legend of Luke.
A.Johnson
Summary of The Legend of Luke (Redwall, Book 12)
Redwall's most valiant champion, Martin the Warrior, embarks on a perilous journey to the northland shore to trace his heroic legacy: the legendary exploits of his father Luke?
Brian Jacques and his tremendous Redwall books never cease to amaze: this is the 12th book in a series that just gets better and better. This time, the interweaving story of a father and a son is told in three parts, starting with a visit to Redwall Abbey by a young hedgehog maid who, by singing a half-remembered song recounting the adventures of a warrior called Luke, begins to unlock some of the mysteries behind the Abbey's early years.
As deftly executed as all the other Redwall books, The Legend of Luke is a truly magnificent, rampaging, rip-roaring adventure story that gives the heart and mind the kind of aerobic workout normally reserved for a sprint round a playing field. From the very first page the readers know they're in for a treat, and as Jacques skillfully builds his story, cleverly interweaving intricate, imaginative detail with a vast cast of incredible characters who each play a vital role in the unfurling of the tale, there can be no doubt that he is still the true master of his genre.
Excellent as a stand-alone read for anyone new to Redwall, and even better as part of the amazing saga that has captured the imagination of millions since its inception, The Legend of Luke is an absolute must-read for anyone--young or old--who likes their fiction fast and fantastical. This story will certainly leave them breathless for more. --Susan Harrison
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.76
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Marlfox: A Tale from Redwallby Brian Jacques
Penguin Group USA; Firebird; Published: 2005-01-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Long Patrol (Redwall, Book 10)by Brian Jacques
Ace; Published: 1999-02-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.94
Price in other shops:
Martin the Warrior (Redwall, Book 6)by Brian Jacques
Ace; Published: 1995-04-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.50
Price in other shops:
The Pearls of Lutra (Redwall, Book 9)by Brian Jacques
Ace; Published: 1998-02-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Taggerung (Redwall, Book 14)by Brian Jacques
Penguin Group USA; Firebird; Published: 2003-09-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
Triss (Redwall, Book 15)by Brian Jacques
Ace; Published: 2003-08-26; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.48
Price in other shops:
Marlfox (Redwall, Book 11)by Brian Jacques
Ace; Published: 2000-01-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.90
Price in other shops:
The Bellmaker (Redwall, Book 7)by Brian Jacques
Ace; Published: 1996-04-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.44
Price in other shops:
Lord Brocktree (Redwall, Book 13)by Brian Jacques
Ace; Published: 2001-09-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.90
Price in other shops:
The Long Patrol: A Tale from Redwallby Brian Jacques
Original Penguin; Firebird; Published: 2004-09-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.65
Price in other shops: